Noisey next door neighbour

DaftyDuck

People were less fussed by that kind of thing back then, as far as I can tell. It's also vary variable as to which houses "leak" noise, and which don't.

I let out two other-wise near-identical semi-detached properties in the same street (and have done so for nearly 20 years), about 20 houses apart. Both built in the 1890's, in good condition, well-maintained, really good construction when built. One of these can hear much of what goes on in the kitchen of the next house, the other hears virtually nothing.

There seems to be only one superficial difference, and that's the noisy neighbour has a large, shiny brushed aluminium cooker hood attached to the party wall, vent running atop the cupboards to the rear wall. Hasn't caused the tenants any real trouble, but it's on the list for me and the neighbour (who I talk to... it helps) to try & resolve. Come Christmas Holidays, we are trying a temporary fix of removing the hood and having mutual shouting matches with ourselves, whilst the other listens from the other side. We'll either be carted off to the loony bin if we are seen, or find out if it has any effect.

There are other nearby houses in the same street that are plagued with noise from even quiet neighbours. Externally they look identical, some may be a little more run down, but they are structurally very similar.

Not of much use to the OP now, but it's worth trying to find a house that neighbours unaltered arrangements next door. Most of these Victorian ones are built so the noisier parts are mirrored (bathrooms to bathrooms) and noises (and their timings) are therefore less of a problem.

orionmoo

Conversion of a house into flats have to conform to Building Regs Part E - Resistance to Sound.

You could possibly check with your local council's Building Control as to whether sign off was given. If you dispute it, you could hire an acoustic consultant, although if they did achieve sign off, the developer would needed to have hired one to perform a 'pre-completion test' before the flats could be let out.

Marvel1

My walls are thin also, but it doesn't bother me as being slightly hard of hearing in my left I don't hear it, but as a result instead of me turning my TV up I listen through headphones.

BUT I can hear everything outside, from people walking past sometimes talking and car doors shutting, lucky I live in a street and not a main road.

Gordon_Hose

Dan-Dan wrote: »

Didnt they talk to each other in those days either?
After all , that is what the OP is complaining about , so not sure what your point is

The OP can hear what program the neighbour is watching - so they are, indeed, complaining about a loud TV.

The point being Victorian house weren't built with noise pollution in mind.

ariba10

We live in a terraced house but it was built just before the First World War and you very rarely hear a sound.

The outside walls are nearly two foot think and think the partition walls must be close to that.

Chanes

Much sympathies to you. I tried to soundproof a house with a friend and it really was a waste of time, his neighbour noise eventually forced him out and into a detached. but someone on this forum said they had a contractor do the soundproofing and it was brilliant, but I can't remember who it was, sorry.

amfan

I have every sympathy for you. 7 months ago I moved from a flat with the quietest neighbours in the quietest village to a terrace with much louder neighbours. Like you I thought I had made the worst of mistakes, especially when the neighbours two doors down had a 72 hour party over a bank holiday weekend!

However, that thankfully turned out to be a one off, and although the other "living noises" from the neighbours either side (constant music from one side and banging and chatter from the other side) haven't really gone, I have learned to live with them, and they don't bother me quite so much these days.

I did buy some really great earplugs to start with, which I still use now if I get woken up in the night by the students that live on the same side as my bedroom. Actually found them on a recommendation from a previous post when I was at my wits end and looking up previous noisy neighbour posts! they are Howard Leight earplugs, and they are only a couple of quid for about 20 pairs on Amazon, and really do work a treat, stay in all night and keep the vast majority of the noise out.

Maybe you could have a chat with your neighbour if he is the approachable kind? he might not actually realise that the sound travels quite so far, and if you tell him that his lounge is next to your bedroom he may well even move to the kitchen late at night if his space allows!